1.3 Membrane Structure
Essential idea: The structure of biological
membranes makes them fluid and dynamic.
Above are models of a plasma membrane showing how it's fluidity allows lipid soluble
molecules to move directly through the membrane.
By Chris Paine
https://bioknowledgy.weebly.com/
http://www.europhysicsnews.org/doc_journal/images/epn/hl/435/Sommer.jpg
Understandings, Applications and Skills
1.3.U1
1.3.U2
1.3.U3
1.3.A1
1.3.S1
Statement
Phospholipids form bilayers in water due to the
amphipathic properties of phospholipid molecules.
Membrane proteins are diverse in terms of
structure, position in the membrane and function.
Cholesterol is a component of animal cell
membranes.
Cholesterol in mammalian membranes reduces
membrane fluidity and permeability to some
solutes.
Drawing of the fluid mosaic model.
1.3.S2 Analysis of evidence from electron microscopy that
led to the proposal of the Davson-Danielli model.
1.3.S3 Analysis of the falsification of the Davson-Danielli
model that led to the Singer-Nicolson model.
Guidance
Amphipathic phospholipids have hydrophilic
and hydrophobic properties.
Drawings of the fluid mosaic model of
membrane structure can be two dimensional
rather than three dimensional. Individual
phospholipid molecules should be shown
using the symbol of a circle with two parallel
lines attached. A range of membrane proteins
should be shown including glycoproteins.
1.3.U1 Phospholipids form bilayers in water due to the amphipathic properties of phospholipid
molecules.
What happens when
you put a drop
of oil in
water?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/zorin-denu/5385963280/
1.3.U1 Phospholipids form bilayers in water due to the amphipathic properties of phospholipid
molecules.
The Oil droplet stays together and makes
a perfect circular shape.
The oil
molecules are
Hydrophobic
Oil Molecules are nonpolar and water
molecules are polar.
See 3.1.5
http://www.flickr.com/photos/zorin-denu/5385963280/
1.3.U1 Phospholipids form bilayers in water due to the amphipathic properties of phospholipid
molecules.
Phospholipid molecules
have a polar (charged)
phosphate head and
long non-polar lipid tails
•
The head is
hydrophillic
(attracted to water)
•
The tails are
hydrophobic
(repelled by water)
When drawing a diagram of a
phospholipid this is a good example
which shows all the key features
http://www.ib.bioninja.com.au/_Media/phospholipid_bilayer_med.jpeg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/39/Phospholipid_TvanBrussel.jpg
1.3.U1 Phospholipids form bilayers in water due to the amphipathic properties of phospholipid
molecules.
When put into water, an emergent property is that
phospholipids will self-organise to keep their heads ‘wet’
and their tails ‘dry’
micelle
liposome
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Micelle_scheme-en.svg
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Liposome_scheme-en.svg
1.3.U1 Phospholipids form bilayers in water due to the amphipathic properties of phospholipid
molecules.
In this 3D representation
you can see that a
phospholipid bilayer is
one way that the tails
can be removed from the
water.
Phospholipid molecules
can flow past each other
laterally but can’t move
vertically
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Phospholipids_aqueous_solution_structures.svg
1.3.U1 Phospholipids form bilayers in water due to the amphipathic properties of phospholipid
molecules.
But wait! there’s more!
The plasma membrane is not just made of
phospholipids
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cell_membrane_detailed_diagram_en.svg?uselang=en-gb
1.3.U2 Membrane proteins are diverse in terms of structure, position in the membrane
and function.
Proteins:
Integral proteins are permanently embedded, many go all the way through and
are polytopic (poly = many, topic = surface), integral proteins penetrating just one
surface are monotopic.
Peripheral proteins usually have a temporary association with the membrane,
they can be monotopic or attach to the surface
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cell_membrane_detailed_diagram_en.svg?uselang=en-gb
1.3.U2 Membrane proteins are diverse in terms of structure, position in the membrane
and function.
Glycoproteins:
Are proteins with an oligosaccaride (oligo = few, saccharide = sugar)
chain attached.
They are important for cell recognition by the immune system and
as hormone receptors
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cell_membrane_detailed_diagram_en.svg?uselang=en-gb
1.3.U2 Membrane proteins are diverse in terms of structure, position in the membrane
and function.
Transport: Protein channels (facilitated) and protein pumps (active)
Receptors: Peptide-based hormones (insulin, glucagon, etc.)
Anchorage: Cytoskeleton attachments and extracellular matrix
Cell recognition: MHC proteins and antigens
Intercellular joinings: Tight junctions and plasmodesmata
Enzymatic activity: Metabolic pathways (e.g. electron transport chain)
http://www.ib.bioninja.com.au/standard-level/topic-2-cells/24-membranes.html
1.3.U3 Cholesterol is a component of animal cell membranes.
Cholesterol: (It’s not all bad!)
It makes the phospholipids pack more tightly and regulates the
fluidity and flexibility of the membrane.
Bad analogy: imagine a room full of people wearing fluffy jumpers (sweaters).
It is crowded but they can slip past each other easily enough.
Now sprinkle the crowd with people wearing Velcro™ suits…
1.3.U3 Cholesterol is a component of animal cell membranes.
Cholesterol
Hydroxyl group makes the head
polar and hydrophilic - attracted
to the phosphate heads on the
periphery of the membrane.
Carbon rings – it’s not
classed as a fat or an oil,
cholesterol is a steroid
Non-polar (hydrophobic) tail –attracted to
the hydrophobic tails of phospholipids in
the centre of the membrane
http://www.uic.edu/classes/bios/bios100/lectf03am/cholesterol.jpg
http://www.cholesterol-and-health.com/images/Cholesterol_Structure.jpg
1.3.A1 Cholesterol in mammalian membranes reduces membrane fluidity and
permeability to some solutes.
Membrane fluidity
The hydrophobic
hydrocarbon tails
usually behave as a
liquid. Hydrophilic
phosphate heads act
more like a solid.
Though it is difficult to determine whether
the membrane is truly either a solid or
liquid it can definitely be said to be fluid.
It is important to regulate the degree of fluidity:
• Membranes need to be fluid enough that the cell can
move
• Membranes need to be fluid enough that the required
substances can move across the membrane
• If too fluid however the membrane could not effectively
restrict the movement of substances across itself
http://www.nature.com/scitable/content/ne0000/ne0000/ne0000/ne0000/14668965/U2.cp5.3_membrane_f2.jpg
1.3.A1 Cholesterol in mammalian membranes reduces membrane fluidity and
permeability to some solutes.
Cholesterol’s role in
membrane fluidity
1. The presence of
cholesterol in the
membrane restricts the
movement of
phospholipids and other
molecules – this reduces
membrane fluidity.
2. The presence of cholesterol
disrupts the regular packing of
the of the hydrocarbon tails of
phospholipid molecules - this is
increases the flexibility as it
prevents the tails from
crystallising and hence behaving
like a solid.
3. Cholesterol also reduces the permeability
to hydrophilic/water soluble molecules
and ions such as sodium and hydrogen.
http://www.nature.com/scitable/content/ne0000/ne0000/ne0000/ne0000/14668965/U2.cp5.3_membrane_f2.jpg
1.3.S1 Drawing of the fluid mosaic model.
Use the tutorials to learn and
review membrane structure
http://www.bio.davidson.edu/people/macampbell/111/membswf/membranes.swf
http://www.phschool.com/science/biology_place/biocoach/biomembrane1/regi
ons.html
https://www.wisc-online.com//LearningContent/ap1101/index.html
1.3.S1 Drawing of the fluid mosaic model.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9VBHGNoFrY
1.3.S1 Drawing of the fluid mosaic model.
Reminder of features that make good diagrams:
•
•
•
•
•
Good use of space
•
Clear strong lines
Label lines are straight •
Labels clearly written
(Scale bar if appropriate)
Lines touch the labeled
structure
No unnecessary shading
or colouring
http://www.ib.bioninja.com.au/_Media/phospholipid_bilayer_med.jpeg
1.3.S3 Analysis of the falsification of the Davson-Danielli model that led to the SingerNicolson model.
Our current model of the cell membrane is called the Singer-Nicholson
fluid mosaic model
Key features:
•
•
•
•
•
Phospholipid molecules form a bilayer - phospholipids are fluid and move laterally
Peripheral proteins are bound to either the inner or outer surface of the membrane
Integral proteins - permeate the surface of the membrane
The membrane is a fluid mosaic of phospholipids and proteins
Proteins can move laterally along membrane
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cell_membrane_detailed_diagram_en.svg?uselang=en-gb
1.3.S3 Analysis of the falsification of the Davson-Danielli model that led to the SingerNicolson model.
Our current model of the cell membrane is called the Singer-Nicholson
fluid mosaic model
There is strong evidence for this model:
Biochemical
techniques
• Membrane proteins
were found to be
very varied in size
and globular in
shape
• Such proteins would
be unable to form
continuous layers on
the periphery of the
membrane.
• The membrane proteins had hydrophobic regions and
therefore would embed in the membrane not layer the
outside
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cell_membrane_detailed_diagram_en.svg?uselang=en-gb
1.3.S3 Analysis of the falsification of the Davson-Danielli model that led to the SingerNicolson model.
Our current model of the cell membrane is called the Singer-Nicholson
fluid mosaic model
There is strong evidence for this model:
Fluorescent antibody
tagging
• red or green
fluorescent markers
attached to
antibodies which
would bind to
membrane proteins
• The membrane proteins
of some cells were tagged
with red markers and
other cells with green
markers.
• Within 40 minutes the red and green markers
were mixed throughout the membrane of the
fused cell.
• This showed that membrane proteins are free to
move within the membrane rather than being
• The cells were fused together.
fixed in a peripheral layer.
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cell_membrane_detailed_diagram_en.svg?uselang=en-gb
1.3.S3 Analysis of the falsification of the Davson-Danielli model that led to the SingerNicolson model.
Our current model of the cell membrane is called the Singer-Nicholson
fluid mosaic model
This model was first proposed in by Singer-Nicolson in 1972
Before then Davson-Danielli model was widely accepted …
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cell_membrane_detailed_diagram_en.svg?uselang=en-gb
1.3.S2 Analysis of evidence from electron microscopy that led to the proposal of the
Davson-Danielli model.
The evidence: In high magnification electron micrographs
membranes appeared as two dark parallel lines with a lighter
coloured region in between.
Proteins appear dark in electron micrographs and phospholipids
appear light - possibly indicating proteins layers either side of a
phospholipid core.
Davson-Danielli
Model
The model:
• A protein-lipid sandwich
• Lipid bilayer composed of phospholipids
(hydrophobic tails inside, hydrophilic heads
outside)
• Proteins coat outer surface
• Proteins do not permeate the lipid bilayer
Proteins
Pore
Phospholipids
This explains: Despite being very thin membranes are an
effective barrier to the movement of certain substances.
http://www.cytochemistry.net/cell-biology/EMview.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/69/Davson_danielli_miguelferig.jpg
1.3.S3 Analysis of the falsification of the Davson-Danielli model that led to the SingerNicolson model.
Falsification of the Davson-Danielli model
– freeze fracturing
This technique involves rapid freezing of cells
and then fracturing them.
Interpreting the image:
• The fracture occurs along lines
of weakness, including the
centre of membranes.
• The fracture reveals an
irregular rough surface inside
the phospholipid bilayer
• The globular structures were
interpreted as transmembrane proteins.
Conclusion:
This is contrary to the Davson-Danielli model which only involves
proteins coating the surface of the membrane. A new model is
needed to explain the presence of as trans-membrane proteins.
http://www.cytochemistry.net/cell-biology/ffimage.jpg
Bibliography / Acknowledgments
Jason de Nys